Truck



May 8, 1928.

.1 H. HERTNER TRUCK Orizinal'Filed Sept. 10 19.19 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Eve/L101.

May 8, 1928.

J. H. HERTNER TRUCK Original Filed Sept. 10, 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 8, 1928.

J. H. HERTNER TRUCK 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Sept. 10, 1919 l 1- 11-. v I: a :1 I I. 1 c

May 8, 1928.

J. H. HERTNER TRUCK Patented May 8, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN I-I; HERTNER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A 'SIGE-T 3. TO THE BAKEE-RAULANG COM- PANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A COBPGRATION' OF OHIO.

TRUGK.

Original application filed September 10, 1919, Serial No. 822,835. Divided and this application f led June 16, 1924. Serial No. 720,295.

This invention relates to" an industrial truck having embodied in it a load handling member, for example, a vertically movable platform; more particularly the invention has to do with the control means for the elevating mechanism of the truck.

This application is a division of my application filed September 10, 1919, Serial No. 322,835, Patent No. 1,505,889, dated Aug. 19,1924.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved control means having associated withit a mechanism for automatically stopping the movement of the load handling member at a predetermined position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relative simple mechanism for automatically stopping the movement of the load handling member at a predetermined position.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved truck wherein its control mechanism is returned to neutral position when the load handling member moves to its extreme position.

Other objectsof the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates from the following deseription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a truck embodying .my invention, parts being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view, with a portion of the platform or vertically movable member, broken away on a central lon gitudinal line.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of theplatform moving mechanism, parts being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a view of the lever mechanism and controller for operating the elevating motor.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary views'of the motor operating mechanism showing the operation thereof.-

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 3, parts beingbroken away.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 3.

im F section on the *l.ine99 of Fig. 10 is a section on the line 10l0 of Figs. 7 and 9.

Fig. 11 is a Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a Figs. 7 and 9.

In the drawings, 1 indicates as an entirety the frame of the truck. The truck frame may comprise a relatively low section 1 and an elevated section 1 connected by brackets 1 in any well known manner, for example, by rivets, to form a rigid frame, the elevated section serving to support the necessary storage batteries 2 and a traction motor 3.

Near its oppositeends, the low section 1 is provided with inclines l, the purpose of which will be later set forth. The traction wheels 6 are mounted on spindles which are connected to the adjacent axle (not shown) by suitable knuckles, whereby they may be used for steering purposes. The knuckles and axle are preferably constructed to receive and support driven axle sections, which are connected by universal joints with the wheel spindles to drive the latter.

7 indicates a pair of relatively small supporting wheels mounted below the low portion of the truck frame 1. The wheels 7 may be of any desired form of construction, and preferably mounted to swing for steering purposes; I

'10 indicates a platform on which the operative stands. The pedal 11 is connected to and operatesupon the brake (not shown) which acts upon the traction motor 3 or an element driven thereby. The brake is spring operated and'the connections are so arranged that downward pressure on the pedal 11 will release the brake, which condition will continue until the pressure on the pedal is released.

12 indicates a controller through which the electric circuit from the batteries 2 is completed to operate the motor 3 in either direction. 13 is a suitable handle having a trigger mechanism 13 for operating the controller 12.

The traction'and supporting wheels '6 and re preferably connected together, one cleof these connections ag indicated L; whereby they may l? a section on the line 11--l1 of section on the line 12-12 of neously by a handle 14 connected to a steenconnected to the lever 45 and arranged to ing rod 14, pivotally connected at its lower endto the connection element'l5. Y

indicates as an entirety the load handling member which is herein shown as a vertically movable platform for the truck, having depending side walls 25. 26 indicates av pair of channel bars, arranged near the oppositeends of the platform 25 and extending transversely thereof (only one being shown). At its opposite ends each bar 26, is provided with depending arms 26. 27 indicates a stud shaft carried by each depending arm and arranged to loosely support a roller 28 which engages with the adjacent incline 4. The rollers 28 are preferably flanged so as to guide the platform and prevent lateral movement thereof at all times. The lowermost or normal position of the platform 25 isshown in Figs. 1, 2,3,

and 4, but movement of the platform longitudinally inwardly or in a direction toward the operatives platform 10, will, through the co-action of the rollers 28 and inclines 4, elevate it to the position shown in Fig. 6; likewise, operation of the platform in the opposite direction will cause it to be lowered to normal position. 29 indicates as an entirety them-echanism for moving the platform interposed between it and the frame 1,

and suitably supported on the latter, a portion on'ly of this mechanism being shown 1n dotted lines in Fig. 7. As disclosed in the aforesaid patent, this mechanism comprises a motor 29 and a screw and nut.one of the latter elements being operated by the motor 29 to act on the other element and effect movement of the platform '25. The motor 29f is driven in either direction to effect raising and. lowering of the platform 25.

44 indicates a brake mechanism for one of the driven elements of the platform operating mechanism 29. The brake mechanism is preferably applied to that shaft directly operated by the motor 29. 45 indicates a lever mounted on a bracket 46 fixed to the casing for the moving mechanism 29. 44 indicates a rod pivoted atone end to the lever 45 and connected, preferably adjustably, with the brake element44 whereby movement of t-Lelever 45 inwardly will press the brake element- 44 against the other brake element 44 and stop the shaft 30.

The connection between the outer end of therod 44 and lever45 is preferably of the slidable pivotal type whereby it will accommodate itself to the movement of the lever 45 as the lever swings abouts it'spivot.

47 indicates a spring, one end of which is fixed to the adjacentframe section 1. The opposite end of the spring 47 is connected to the lever 45 and acts at all times to move the lever in the direction to press the brake elements together. 48 is a rod pivotally tion of the motor armature shaft in one direction or the other. The controller shaft 50 carries a pair of cams 52, 52 the pur pose of which will be later set forth. 'The controller 50 is preferably enclosed within a casing 53 which may be'forined of two box sections 53 secured together in any deired manner. 54 indicates an arm fixed to the shaft 50 The arm 54 may comprise one arm of a bell crank lever. The other arm 54 of the lever will be later referred to. 55 'ndicates connections leading from the arm 54 to a handle 56 by means of which the connections 55 and through them the controller shaft 50 'is operated. the elements constituting the connections 55 are preferably mounted upon the frame work of the vehicle, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

57 indicates a rock shaft mounted in suit able bearings carried by a side wall of one of the box sections 53 (see Fig. 11). At its inner end the shaft has fixed to it lever 57 adapted to engage with the cams 52, 52. iVhen the shaft 50 is in neutral position, the engaging end of the arm or lever 57 is disposed between the cams 52, 52v (see Fig. 12) in position to engage either one of them accordingly as the shaft 50 is moved in one direction or the other (see Figs. 4, 5 and 6). The cams 52, 52 are so arranged that upon the operation of the shaft 50 in either direction one of them will swing the lever 57 and thus cause the shaft, 57 to rock. The outer end of the lever 57 is preferably provided with an anti-friction roller 58 which rolls on the cam surfaces. At its outer end each cam is provided with a. notch 52 to re ceive the roller 58. Theengagement of the roller 58 with the notch 52 not only holds the. lever 57 in operated position, but also prevents movement of the controller under the influence of the spring 47 back to its normal posit-ion. At its outer end the shaft 57 carries a lever 59 to which is connected a rod 60. 61 indicates bell crank lever pivotally mounted on the adjacent frame member. One arm of the lever 61 is pivotally connected to the opposite end of the rod 60; the other arm of the lever 61 is pivotally connected to the forward end of the rod 48. From the foregoing description it will be seen that when. the controller 50 is operated by movement of the handle 56, to drive the elevating motor 29, one of the cams 52, 52 through the lever 57 and connections 59, 60 and 61, pushes the rod 48 rearwardly, the effectof which is to re- The handle 56 and.

lease'tlie' brakeet t. By operating thehandle 56 in theopposite-direction with suflicient force-to'overcome" the resistance due to t-he engagement of the roll r 58 with the walls of the adj ac'entnotch 52,-the currentinay be out off and the motor stopped. Simultane ously the-arm '57 will assume its normal position s'eeFigsfi, 5 and12) allowing the brakeet t' to operate under the influence of thespring 47. The elements just referred toare preferably so arranged and correlated that-the spring l? will not only reset the brake 44:, but will"alsotransmit its power through the rod 48, lever 61, rod 60, arm 59 andshaft 57 to the arm 57 whereby the latter acting upon'one of the cams 52, F2 wi'll move the controller shaft 50 back to its neutral position whenever suiiicient'movcment 'of'th'e shaft 50 takes' place to move the 'roller'out of the adjacent notch 52 and overt-he wa-ll thereof.

I prefer toprovide'between the controller shaft 50 and the platform 25 means (indicated as an entirety at 62) which automati cally release'the controller 50, upon the plat-- form reacl'iing either its extreme 'upper or lower position.

Ofthe'se releasemeans 62, 62 indicates a rock shaft mounted in suitable bearings carried by one'of the frame :member (see Fig. 8). At its inner end the shaft 62 carries an arm'63 to the free end of which is pivotally connected a rod 64. The rear end of the rod 64: is pivotally connected in any well known manner to the forward end of the platform 25, preferably the adjacent bar 26 thereof. By this construction and arrangement it will be seen that the paltform 25, will, through the rod 6st, and arm 63 rock the shaft 62 as it moves upwardly and downwardly. At its outer end the rock shaft 62 carries a plate 65 on which are mounted a pair of spaced tappets 66, 66. The plate 65 is fixed to the shaft 62 in any desired way. 67 indicates a rod pivotally connected to the arm 54 at one end and at its opposite end to a lever 68 loosely mounted on the shaft 62 (see Figs. 8 and 9). 69 indicates a lug carried by the lever 68 and arranged in the path of movement of the tappets 66, 66. Accordingly, as the plate 65 moves about the axis of the shaft 62, one of the tappets, 66, 66, will engage with the lug 69 and move the arm 68. which in turn through the rod 67 and arm 5st will move the controller shaft 5t) toward its neutral position. The tappet is so arranged that it will move the arm 68 and the elements connected thereto far enough to re lease the roller 58 from the adjacent notch 52, whereupon the arm 57 through its engagement with the adjacent cam, and acting under the influence of the spring 4E7, will complete the movement of the shaft 50 to neutral position. The plate 65 is prefershaft-62. By meansof such adjustment,

release of the controller shaft 50" and the subsequent cutting off of thecurrent can be effected at any desired point in the movenient' upwardly or downwardly of the platform 25; To 161111ii3'0f ready adjustment, each of the tappets 66, 66, may consistot a bolt 66 extending through the adjacent slot 65" and carrying on its outer end a nut to clamp the bolt head against the plate 65.

lVhen this construction is employed, the head of the bolt may serve as a tappet to engage the lug 69.

A brief description of the operation of the release mechanism 62 will make its construction clear. Assuming that the elements are atrest and the platform 25 is in its lowermost position, operation of the handle 56 will move the arms 54, 5% and shaft 50 in a clockwise direction (see a row in Fig. l) and position the lug 69 substantially midway between the tappets 66, 66 The circuit to the motor 29 having been closed the motor will be operated and the platform raised to the position shown'in Fig. 5. The movement of the platform2'5, through the rod' st, arm 63, and shaft 62, will swing the pla-te65 about the axis of the shaft 62. As the platform approaches the limit ofits movement, the tappet 66 will engage the lug 69 and through it move the arm 68 sufliciently to disengage the roller from the notch 52 and hence release the controller shaft 50 in the manner already described, and permit the latter to be returned to neutral position under the action of the spring 47. If now it is desired to lower the platform 25, the handle 56 is operated in the opposite direction to move the controller shaft 50 to the position shown .in Fig. 6. This operation will position the lug 69 substantially midway between the tappets 66, 66", so that as the platform 25 moves downwardly, the plate 65 will be moved in the opposite direction and cause engagement of the tappet 66 with the lug 69.

It will thus be seen that when the elevating motor 29 is set in operation for raising and lowering the platform, the release means 62 will automatically stop or shut off the current to the motor at the proper time as the platform moves to its extreme position in either direction. This construction not only prevents any damage occurring to the apparatus but it saves time, relieves the operative of care and responsibility and lessens the wear on the elevating motor and other elements of the apparatus.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates many alterations in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of my invention will 5mg gest'themselves without departing from the a spirit and scope thereof. My disclosures and description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to beinany sense limiting.

\Vhat I claim is 1. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a frame, an elevating member mounted to move in opposite directions thereon and means including a motor and a controller for operating said member in either direction, of a brake for said motor normally applied to an element driven by said motor, cams arranged to be actuated by said controller, a device acted upon by said cams and operatively connected to said brake for releasing the latter when said controller is operated, a rotatable device connected to and operated by said member and carrying spaced tappets, an arm mounted to swing relative to said rotatable device about its axis, and a connection between the controller and said arm, whereby the latter is moved into operative relation to one of said tappets when said controller is operated.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which each of the said cams is provided with a notch to receive said cam actuated device and coacts therewith to lock the brake and controller in their operated positions.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said tappets are independently adjustable about the axis of said rotatable device.

4. In apparatus of the class described, th combination with a frame, an elevating member mounted to move in opposite directions thereon and means including a motor and a controller for operating said member in either direction, of a brake arranged to act on an element driven by said motor to stop it, connections between said brake and said controller normally tending to apply said brake and return said controller to neutral position, said connections including interlocking devices serving to lock the said brake and'controller in operated positions, irrespective of the position of said member, and means actuated by said member and connected to said controller for releasingsaid interlocking devices when said member moves in either direction to a predetermined position.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the means actuated by said mem her comprise a rotatable device operated by said member and an arm connected to said controller and operated thereby into operative relation to said rotatable device.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JOHN H. HERTNER. 

